Nadakkal parameswaran pillai

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Indian Coffee House building at Thampanoor,Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, designed by Laurie Baker, the Architect of the Poor of Kerala

Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai or N. S. Parameswaran Pillai (b. 25 May 1931) is the founder of Indian Coffee Houses in Kerala with the late Communist Leader of Thrissur Advocate T. K. Krishnan. As one of the famous co-operators of Kerala and the leader of the legendary ICH movement, he is popular as 'Coffee House Pillai' in related circles. He is also the author of the alternative history of Indian Coffee House, the world's largest worker cooperative.

1 Historian of I.C.H. movement
2 Early life
3 Trade Unionist
4 Co-operator
5 Family
6 See also
7 References
8 Outside Liks

[edit] Historian of I.C.H. movement

His book Coffee Housinte Katha or The Story of Coffee House is in Malayalam, the regional language of Kerala, the home state of A. K. Gopalan the legendary Communist Leader of India and the father of the ICH movement. It was not a mere history or a personal account but a passionate literary piece. The famous writer of Malayalam M. T. Vasudevan Nair who introduced the book to the readers has praised it as both enjoyable and relevant. It got wide appreciation from the writers like Dr. Sukumar Azheekode, Vaishakhan, Babu Bharadwaj, V. G. Thampy, Asokan Charuvil, Ravunny and N. R. Gramaprakash . It also became a best seller in Malayalam in the year of 2006. He has won Abudhabi Shakti award of 2007 for this work.

[edit] Early life

Pillai is hailing from Pallippuram, a hamlet of Alappuzha a Communist Stronghold of Kerala. He was a drop out after the completion of 4th standard, due to poverty. After a long wandering he became a last grade employee of Coffee Board's Coffee House of Ernakulam in 1945. Then he became a communist and an activist of the India Coffee Board Labours Union.

[edit] Trade Unionist

Pillai was one of the employees thrown out to the streets from Coffee Houses in 1957 by the Coffee Board. He was also the State Secretary of the Union then. Thus he deputed to form Worker's Coffee Houses in Kerala by the union. As a result of the initiative of TK and Pillai, cooperative societies of Coffee Board workers were formed at Thrissur and Palakkad. It was the beginning of ICHs in Kerala. Now Kerala has the largest chain of ICHs in the country.

[edit] Co-operator

Pillai guided the society of Thrissur for three decades. He served the society as Founder Secretary, Sales Manager, Chief Sales Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Now it is the largest ICH society of the country. He was also the Founder Secretary of Palakkad Society. Pillai was also the Director, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Federation of ICH societies, New Delhi, the national umbrella organisation comprising all ICH societies of the nation.

[edit] Family

He is leading a retired life at Thrissur now. Phone number 04872337318. He is married to Smt. K. N. Lalithamma a member of Kattipparambil family of Edappally. She is also one of the founder members of ICH Co-operative Society, Thrissur. She is also having a role in the history of ICH movement by donating her ornaments to begin the first Indian Coffee House of Kerala.